Festivals in Fort Collins are not just for summertime. As the summer ends, we're looking ahead to a packed calendar of fun festivals and events in Fort Collins! Brace yourselves for adorable corgis in costumes, pumpkin patch family fun, a beautiful lighting ceremony in Old Town Square, and so much more!
Northern Colorado Mountain Bike Festival
(September 25-27th)
NoCo MTB Fest is Northern Colorado’s premier mountain biking celebration, hosted by Overland Mountain Bike Association. New in 2026 is the location as the event has shifted to Inlet Bay at Horsetooth for three packed days of riding, music, community, and trail advocacy. Attractions include a poker ride, demo bikes, Take-a-Kid Mountain Biking, skills contests, and more! For more information, see the website here!
Rist Canyon Mountain Fest
(September 27-28th)
The 2026 Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department (RCVFD) Mountain Festival will celebrate the department’s 51st anniversary with a full day’s lineup of live music and activities for the entire family. Mark your calendars for the annual RCVFD Mountain Festival, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come rain or shine, the festival is the perfect way to kick off the fall season. Festival favorites include a gigantic used book sale, silent auction, bake sale, plant sale, firefighter dunk tank, craft and art vendors, food trucks, large-covered seating area, and more! Admission, parking, tractor-pulled hayride shuttle to/from the parking area (handicapped parking available), live musical entertainment, large kid’s activity area, farm animals, educational booths and demonstrations, and ice cream all are free of charge.
Taste of Fort Collins
(September 26-27th)
Taste of Fort Collins is heading into a new era this year — for the first time, the festival is shifting from its traditional early-June slot to September 26 & 27, 2026, moving into the heart of fall at Washington Park. The later date brings cooler weather and, organizers say, an overall better festival experience. Headlining the new fall dates: Modest Mouse plays Saturday, September 26th at 7:30 PM, and Lil Jon takes the stage Sunday, September 27th at 6:45 PM — alongside the usual lineup of local food and business vendors.
12th Annual Tour de Corgi
(October 3rd)
See a sea of cute corgis - many in costume - set against the changing fall leaves at this quirky event at Civic Center Park and Old Town Fort Collins on October 3, 2026. Rejoice at the thought of the 12th year of Corgi cuteness with Tour De Corgi! The day starts with a costume contest and concludes with a corgi parade all throughout Old Town Fort Collins. Proceeds from the event benefit 4 Paws Pet Pantry, Colorado Corgis and Friends Rescue, Wyoming Dachshund and Corgi Rescue, and Bandit's K9Care. Tour de Corgi was founded in 2014 by corgi owner Tracy Stewart.
Tour de Farms
(October 4th)
Bike Fort Collins annual community-building and fundraising Tour de Farms will be held on Sunday, October 4th. The fun and festive 30+ mile ride will be guided and led by Bike Fort Collins representatives along a route made up of a combination of paved and gravel roads, along with 3 stops at local area farms. As with past Tour de Farms, each farm stop will feature light tastings and refreshments along with a few words from each farm owner/representative. This year’s ride will end at Verboten North Brewpub.
FOCO Fall Fest
(October 9-11th)
FoCo Fall Fest is taking over Downtown Fort Collins for an unforgettable autumn celebration on October 9-11th! Join us for a vibrant street festival where crisp fall vibes meet community pride. Stroll through the heart of Fort Collins and discover local makers, mouthwatering eats, craft beverages, live music, and fun for all ages — including festive kids' activities and interactive fall-themed experiences. This FREE event is your chance to connect with local businesses and nonprofits, celebrate the season, and soak in the spirit of FoCo. Come one, come all — the leaves are falling and the fun is calling!
Long View Marathon & Half
(October 9th)
Gnar Runners and Sweetheart City Racing collaborate to bring this city-to-city race to life each fall. Traverse the paved trail system connecting Fort Collins and Loveland, and enjoy views for days as you traverse the urban and rural beauty of Northern Colorado. The route borders Fort Collins Natural Areas, Boyd Lake State Park, Loveland Open Lands and more. Register for the race now!
Pumpkins on Parade
(October 22-25th)
The Gardens on Spring Creek is once again hosting its fun-for-all-ages celebration of Halloween and the harvest with Pumpkins on Parade, Oct. 22-25. Delight in the hundreds of locally grown pumpkins and gourds arranged across The Gardens in artistic displays, and enjoy fun and festive activities for the whole family. Costumes are encouraged! This event is candy-free as part of the Teal Pumpkin Project. Ticket will go on sale in early September. Check back soon!
Blue Sky Marathon & Half
(October 17-18th)
Blue Sky Marathon (and Half option) is Fort Collins’ original and only trail marathon. Explore the trails connecting Horsetooth Mountain Park and the Devil’s Backbone Open Space on this north-south tour of the easternmost hogbacks of Northern Colorado. Prepare for 3,500 feet of elevation gain (and loss) on 100% dirt and 90% Colorado singletrack. The route features a little bit of everything and appeals to veteran trail runners and those hoping to experience their first trail adventure. Registration is still open, so dust off those running shoes today!
Halloween Organ Extravaganza
(October 31st)
The organ studio, with faculty-artist Joel Bacon, presents the 21st annual Halloween Organ Extravaganza, with classic (and not-so-classic) works, including the famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor by Johann Sebastian Bach. Don’t miss this community favorite! There are three concert times you can choose from: 6 pm, 8 pm and 10 pm. The event is held at the University Center for the Arts (1400 Remington Street, Fort Collins 80523). Buy tickets in advance online as the concert tends to sell out quickly!
Downtown Holiday Lighting Ceremony
(November 6th)
This annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony in Old Town Square kicks off the holiday season in downtown Fort Collins. The lights are expected to turn on after a short countdown at 6:30 p.m. Every night from the first week in November through Valentine's Day, the lights will be turned on in Old Town Fort Collins. Twenty-two block faces of downtown will be illuminated with thousands of strands of lights in alleyways, along sidewalks, and within tree tops. The impressive display of low-energy and sustainable LED lights can be enjoyed anywhere along College Avenue, the northern boundary of Laporte Avenue, and continuing south to Magnolia Street. Trees will be lit along Walnut Street, Linden Street, Pine Street, Old Town Square, Oak Street Plaza, and Mountain Avenue.
Harvest Extravaganza
Here are a few of our favorite local pumpkin patches and farms offering all sorts of fall family fun:
- The Bartel’s Farm – a huge selection of pumpkins, corn mazes, and hayrides.
- Northern Colorado Corn Maze – Jack Lantern’s Corn Maze is a Colorado favorite.
- Something from the Farm – This family-owned farm features an organic pumpkin patch, hay bale maze, hayrides, a pumpkin catapult, and more.
- Fritzler Farm Park – Located in LaSalle, attractions at the farm include a corn maze, pumpkin patch, pedal go-carts, barrel train, pumpkin cannons, slide mountain, and more.
- Spooky’s Pumpkin Patch — Choose from a variety of pumpkins, gourds, carving kits, and even straw bales and corn stalks for your fall decorating needs at this patch, located on South College Avenue.
- Odell Brewing Co.'s Oktoberfest — Celebrate German beer and music on September 10-13th!
